Winter Warriors GB 2008

sanderson_91 - it's never too late to join, as long as you can finish by the first of May! I'm very interested to see that pic, definitely post a scan.

SMJ - looking real good. How much longer do you think you have? And what exactly are you planning on doing with that track overlap?

Arki - I'd offer you some of mine but it's probably quicker to go to the LHS. Sorry. And don't worry, there'll be some more A/C in here at some point.

Biffa - good to see you getting your start. Eagerly awaiting updates!

SMJmodeler wrote:

WIP:  In the homestretch on this one...I need to finish the tools, tracks, add the antenna, snow, and a few other minor items...then the figures...I struggle on those but I gotta' keep trying!!!

Outstanding work, Steve!  I can't wait to see this 'in the flesh,' so to speak.  It makes me want to start one of my armor kits so I can turn to you for your expertise and advice.

Mark

WIP:  In the homestretch on this one...I need to finish the tools, tracks, add the antenna, snow, and a few other minor items...then the figures...I struggle on those but I gotta' keep trying!!!

Is it too late to get into this GB?  I just came across a photo of a P-47D of the 61st Fighter Squadron flown by Maj. Donovan Smith that is in a Winter Camouflage scheme.  I'll try to post the photo on Monday when I can scan it at work.  It's on page 31 of the American Fighters Over Europe (published by Finescale).  I've looked on-line for additional photos but haven't found any yet.  Thanks!

Steve

Good progress, guys.  I'm getting the "stranger in a strange land" feeling though with all the tanks underway!  Am I the only aircraft guy in here? 

Got the cowling all sorted out although I have lots of seam work ahead of me.  Wings are assembled and there is more seam work at the wingtips since ICM provides the wingtips seperate.  Not really sure why they do that.

Anyway, was about to shoot the underside intake when I realized I'm completely out of RLM 02.  If it's not one thing, it's six others.....

There is some great progress going on here hard to beleive some of you guys are just about done, well i havent had much time on my hands of late but i managed a start, this kit so far as been a breath of fresh air with nothing but beautiful parts that fit without need for any upgrading. I wont be using the lattice decals in the kit it would be almost impossible to weather them properly, anyway here,s what i have so far,,

the spring housing were fitted

suspension arms fitted

wheels and other lower hull details except the hub caps

here i dry fitted the upper hull to check before continuing and it was perfect front and back

next up the tracks hopefully this evening,,

keep up the nice work chaps.

mg42gunner,

Scrap the tape idea!!!  Too difficult, too crisp on the edges, use the "silly putty technique".  There's a "how-to" article in FSM, I forget which issue but's a a somewhat recent one.  The putty molds very easy and doesn't stick to the kit AT ALL.

I'm going to have to agree with Hermes here - there's no way you're going to get masking tape to a) cover all of the protruding detail and b) not damage it in the process. Silly Putty IS really easy to work with...you'll need 2-3 eggs worth I would think for something that big.

Build looks real good, btw - looking forward to some "real" pics with that first layer of camo!

Looks great so far!

Your only realistic masking option, with all the detail you have to mask over, is silly putty. Just roll it out on a piece of glass and then cut it (to ensure you get not only a hard edge, but a straight edge)

mg42gunner wrote:

bbrowniii, I built the tamiya 222 a while ago (my third build) In the whitewash scheme. I used tamiya weathering sets (which are really the same thing as pastels or pigments) to get the right effect. There's more pics in the original thread: /forums/665191/ShowPost.aspx It was an easy, fun kit to build. No fit problems whatsoever. It even comes with PE grenade screens, which really looks great. *I went back and checked the pictures of the 103c tank in winter camo, but Im not sure ill be able to get those hard demarcation lines on the camo with silly putty. Do you think tape will work? It might be a pain to do, but itll give me harder edges.

mg42 - thanks for the pics.  I will definately check out the rest of them in the link you provided.  That is about the exact same look I am going for, so your pics are especially helpful

To all: some really impressive progress is being made since I checked in last.  Sorry for my extended absence, but I hope to be back for awhile now and to get some building in soon!

I so desperately want the Chargers to beat NE, but I don't think it's going to happen either.

I'll be spending some time in the office this weekend, but should be able to get the fuselage, cowling and wings all together.  I hope.

Unless I'm sorely mistaken, I don't think the Packers will have too much trouble with the Giants...sorry Giants fans. I'm not of the opinion the Eli reaaaaaly has it when it counts. Nor am I giving the banged-up Chargers much credit either, mostly for the same reason. They should have kept Drew Brees, IMHO.

So Winter Warriors, any one else have some good progress to post? Or extensive building plans for the weekend? 

Oooooh, football. Forgot about that part.

Well, with the wife gone, I suppose I can just spread Panther parts all over the living room couch, coffee table, floor. It WILL be finished!

dupes wrote:

Hermes - you don't happen to have a summary of those issues, do you? And I thought that this one was going to be "OOB"...?   Some good news and some bad news...which are really the same news. The wife is going to Boston shopping with one of her friends for the weekend, which means I should have 48 hours of  uninterrupted modeling time in my VERY near future! HaHA!  I see the Panther conversion/assembly being complete by Sunday night!

Sure, I can post the "issues" when I post my pictures.

And you forget about football! That will be a slight interuption, no?

Hermes - you don't happen to have a summary of those issues, do you?

And I thought that this one was going to be "OOB"...?

Some good news and some bad news...which are really the same news. The wife is going to Boston shopping with one of her friends for the weekend, which means I should have 48 hours of  uninterrupted modeling time in my VERY near future! HaHA!  I see the Panther conversion/assembly being complete by Sunday night!

The AFV M18 is my second-most built kit, after the Tamiya Panther - I've already done two; this will be the third. So...I can throw it together really fast by now, since I know where all the problems are.

I started this morning and completed all of the major construction, and hope to do some PE work this evening on the M2 .50 MG, and add some wire for the brush guards. Then it'll be on to paint!

Hahaha, no problemo Hermes. I'm going to be doing that same kit for the Hunters GB, so I wouldn't mind seeing yours in progress anyway.

Are you going to be able to start soon? 

That's exactly correct, there are no alternate exhaust attachments if you don't want to use the engine.  This is ICM's engineering at it's best (tongue in cheek).  The engine is nicely detailed though.   

I removed the exhausts successfully last night.  I think what I'm going to do is glue some tabs to the inside of each cowling for the exhausts to attach to.  The trick will be making sure the tabs "sit" the exhausts correctly when viewed from the exterior. 

I think it will work, just gotta play with it.  I know I've done the right thing because I felt so much better about the build after jettisoning the engine.  Moving forward again

Too bad on the fit...that's quite an impressive hunk of engine-plastic.

Is there no "external exhausts" option with the kit? You have to install the engine (or use the engine exhausts) to finish it? I guess what I'm saying is, no replacement part if you don't want to install the engine?

Stinkin friggin kit....

Unless the engine is installed dead nutz correct then you have zero chance of getting the 4 (!) part cowling together.  One guess as to whether or not I installed the engine perfectly...

So, since I really only need the engine because the exhausts are attached to it, I cut the engine free.  Now I'll carefully remove the exhausts and go to plan B.

One step forward, four steps back.

Hermesminiatures,

Thanks for the comment and suggestion.

I plan to hide that seam with snow.  These tracks have been REALLY tough to work with (long story)  and I knew from the start I would need to deal with that seam.

Juicy!

I'm certainly not seeing much that needs improvement. I guess fire the rest of the accessories on there and let's see how she looks done!

Warriors,

Besides the tracks (which will be covered with snow), graphite hightlights, dirt, pastels and the usually goodies...spare treads, cables, antenna, headlight, etc...does anybody see anything I'm missing or need to address?...you know how it is when you look at your own work long enough, you tend to miss something obvious.

Thanks for any input.

SMJ

dupes- I'm still deciding on how to apply a winter schemes.

Heres some more progress photos.